Gary Peters

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, reserving the right to object.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I oppose the Scott amendment, which would gut the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act by nullifying the Medicare integration proposal. Medicare integration is an absolutely key part of this bipartisan bill to provide long-term financial stability for the Postal Service. My colleague Senator Portman spoke recently about why these criticisms of Medicare integration are simply unfounded. This bill simply provides for future postal retirees, who have already paid into Medicare throughout their entire careers, to enroll in Part B and Part D. Roughly a quarter of postal retirees do not enroll in Medicare even though they are eligible. This means the Postal Service is stuck paying higher premiums. This bill simply allows the Postal Service to do what other businesses and employers already do all across our country by integrating these retirees into Medicare. This saves the Postal Service money and saves taxpayer money. This bill reduces the deficit over 10 years by nearly $1.5 billion. CBO has also made clear that the bill does not affect the Part A trust fund and will not have any effect on Medicare Part B or Part D premiums. Postal workers are already eligible for Part A, and the number of new postal workers going into Part B will be fewer than 40,000 individuals, and that compares to 62 million people currently in the program. The Postal Service Reform Act does not harm Medicare. It provides savings to the Postal Service and to taxpayers. It allows the Postal Service to survive, regain stable financial footing, and keep delivering for every single American. We need to stop delaying this bill. We need to pass the bill. I object.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture motion on the Gonzalez nomination be withdrawn.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I may speak 5 minutes prior to the commencement of the vote.

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, in just a few moments, this body will take an important vote to continue moving forward on the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act. These vital reforms will help set the Postal Service on a more stable financial footing so that this trusted public service can continue delivering to every single community in the United States. Millions--millions--of Americans are counting on the Postal Service to deliver essential mail, including medications, important financial documents, and other critical supplies. We have all seen firsthand how veterans and seniors, small businesses, rural residents, and others who rely on the Postal Service face serious hardships when the Postal Service is focused on cutting costs by making changes to delivery service. This bill will help address the most significant financial burdens on the Postal Service by reversing an unnecessary requirement to prefund every cent of healthcare benefits that every postal employee will eventually use in retirement no matter how far off that retirement may be. By eliminating this aggressive prefunding requirement--I may add, something that no other business in America is forced to do--along with integrating postal retirees' healthcare into Medicare, like so many other private employers, this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will save the Postal Service more than $49 billion over the next 10 years. The bill also requires the Postal Service to deliver 6 days a week and improves transparency and accountability for Americans by requiring the Postal Service to publicly post weekly performance data on its website. This legislation has been 15 years in the making, and tonight, we will get one step closer to making it a reality. I am grateful to my colleagues who have shown strong, bipartisan support for this legislation, including my colead, Ranking Member Portman from Ohio, and the 28 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle who have worked with us to make this a reality. Our cosponsors have played an important role in helping to build additional support for this critical bill. Certainly, there is still more work to do to ensure even greater long-term success for the Postal Service and its customers, but tonight--tonight--the Senate will take a substantial step to continue advancing this incredibly important bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in taking this meaningful action to protect the future of the Postal Service and the essential services that it provides to our communities all across our country. I yield the floor. Cloture Motion

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, last night, the Senate came together for the American people and overwhelmingly voted to move forward on historic, bipartisan, bicameral, and long-overdue reforms that will help ensure the stability and the long-term success of the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service is one of our Nation's oldest and most trusted institutions. It serves as a critical lifeline for millions of Americans, including seniors and veterans in rural communities who expect the Postal Service to deliver vital mail, including supplies and medications. However, for more than 15 years, this public service and its dedicated workers have been hindered by burdensome financial requirements. The need to quickly pass these balanced reforms, which are broadly supported by the American people, has become increasingly urgent. One persistent burden has been a requirement to prefund every single cent of healthcare benefits that every single postal worker employee will use when they eventually retire, no matter how far off that may be. This is something that no business in America is required to do, and for good reason. It makes no practical sense, and it has imposed an enormous cost on the Postal Service that has threatened their ability to provide reliable and timely delivery. In recent years, we have seen firsthand how burdensome policies have driven the Postal Service to resort to harsh measures to cut costs and, as a result, compromise delivery service. We must act now to set this critical institution on a sustainable financial footing by passing the Postal Service Reform Act. This bipartisan, commonsense legislation will save the Postal Service more than $49 billion in the next 10 years by eliminating the aggressive prefunding requirement for retiree health benefits and by integrating postal retirees' healthcare with Medicare. These changes will help ensure the Postal Service, which is self- sustaining and does not receive taxpayer funding, can continue serving the people and avoid making severe cuts down the line that would impact millions of Americans. These reforms will also require the Postal Service to deliver 6 days a week so it can continue serving as a critical lifeline for countless communities that need timely delivery of their essential needs. This legislation will also make the Postal Service more transparent and accountable to the American people by making weekly local performance data publicly available online, enabling every single community to see exactly how the Postal Service is performing in their area. I introduced this legislation in the Senate last year and have worked hand in hand with Ranking Member Rob Portman from Ohio, as well as Chairwoman Maloney and Ranking Member Comer on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, to craft this bill. Last month, the House passed this legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support. Last night, we saw this body advance it with significant bipartisan support once again. Now the Senate has a historic opportunity to move this legislation forward. I am proud to have helped secure significant bipartisan support for our Senate companion bill, with a total of 14 Democratic and 14 Republican cosponsors backing the legislation. Together, we can finally, after more than 15 years, pass this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to set the Postal Service on a stable financial foot and bring it into the future. We can support our dedicated and hard-working postal employees, as well as the customers whom they serve. We can set the Postal Service up for success so that families and small businesses, veterans, seniors, and all Americans can continue to rely on this critical public service, as they have for generations. We can show the American people this body can set aside partisanship and work hand in hand to improve their lives. Every single day that we delay will just hurt the Postal Service. We must pass these urgently needed reforms. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and pass it swiftly so that we can ensure the long-term success of this treasured institution and the essential role it plays in the lives of every single American. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 265, S. 3600.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Wicker and Peters amendments, which are at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, S. 3600 is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will help protect critical infrastructure from the absolute relentless cyber attacks that we see that threaten both our economy as well as our national security. I appreciate Senator Portman working with me to get this legislation across the finish line. And I think this is especially important right now as we face increased risk of cyber attacks from Russia and the cyber criminals that they harbor in retaliation for our support for Ukraine. I appreciate the Senate for coming together here tonight to get this important landmark bill done. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Thank you, Leader Schumer. Madam President, I stand in support of this bill. This bill is absolutely essential to make sure that the Postal Service is on sound financial footing. As Leader Schumer mentioned, Americans all across our country rely on the Postal Service to deliver critical items to their home--things like medicines, which go via the Postal Service. They expect that service to provide it 6 days a week and to do it on time. But, unfortunately, the Postal Service has been saddled with rules that may make it very, very difficult. The legislation before us is an attempt to fix those rules that make it more difficult for the Postal Service to deliver essential services and do it in a cost-effective way. It is something that has been discussed here in Congress for a decade or more--a decade or more. This is not an issue that just came out of nowhere. This is something we have been trying to fix for nearly a decade. Over the last year and a half, we have been working on bipartisan, bicameral legislation, bringing people together and saying, Let's just focus on what is common sense. Now, let's see, what is common sense? Right now, the Postal Service has had to prefund retirement healthcare for decades. No other company in America needs to do that. No other Federal agency in the government does that. No one does it, but the Postal Service is saddled with this requirement, which has billed tens of billions of dollars. It is common sense to treat the Postal Service like every other business and every other government agency in the Federal Government. Also, it makes sense to have retirees integrated into Medicare. Like every single company in America, it will be integrated into Medicare. And let's be clear: Those postal workers have been paying into Medicare their whole working career. They are paying into Medicare. They should have the ability to actually get Medicare. This will also help the Postal Service be able to function in an efficient and effective way. The bipartisan, bicameral work that we did--I worked with my ranking member, Senator Portman. We have been working with our counterparts in the House, and both the Democratic chair and the Republican ranking member came up with an agreement, got wide consensus from folks throughout Congress. In fact, the bill that I introduced here in the Senate, which is basically the bill that is before us from the House, has 28 cosponsors--14 Republicans, 14 Democrats. How many bills do we have here on the floor that have that much support from both sides? This is bipartisan. This is common sense. It addresses a critical issue for the American people, and they want us to come together and solve it. But instead, we have a procedural blocking technique to slow this down. And every day we wait, it puts the Postal Service in more jeopardy. It is time for action now. As the leader mentioned, since 2000, there have been similar kinds of mistakes by the transfer of a bill; five times--five times in 20 years. And every time, it has been settled quickly because people say it is just a mistake; let's move on with the business of the people. Let's not play games. I would hope we could do that now. Five times, it went quickly. In fact, three of those times, the bills that came over had less bipartisan support than this bill. This bill had 120 Republicans support it in the House. It is time to move this forward. Let's stop playing games. Let's help the Postal Service. Let's help the American people, and let's show that the U.S. Senate knows how to get a job done.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I have 10 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the allowing committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to confirm several highly qualified nominees to serve on the local District of Columbia courts--the DC Superior Court, which functions as the State-level trial court, and the DC Court of Appeals, which serves as the State-level appellate court right here in our Nation's Capital. Both courts are currently suffering from a vacancy crisis. There are 16 of the 62 DC Superior Court seats that are currently empty, and 3 of the 9 seats on the DC Court of Appeals are also vacant, slowing justice and impeding public safety for all District residents. Last year, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs reported seven nominees to serve on the DC courts by a bipartisan voice vote. These include five nominees to serve on the DC Superior Court--Rupa Ranga Puttagunta, Kenia Seoane Lopez, Sean Staples, Ebony Scott, and Donald Tunnage--and two nominees to serve on the DC Court of Appeals--John Howard III and Loren AliKhan. Judge Puttagunta currently serves as an administrative judge for the DC Rental Housing Commission. She began her legal career as a law clerk in the DC Superior Court and the DC Court of Appeals and practiced for several years in the District of Columbia, focusing on family and criminal law. I am certainly pleased that my colleagues confirmed her earlier today. Judge Seoane Lopez currently serves as a magistrate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, a position that she has held for 9 years. She previously served as a bilingual attorney negotiator in the court's domestic violence division and as an assistant attorney general for the Office of the Attorney General of the District of Columbia. Judge Staples also currently serves as a magistrate judge for the District of Columbia Superior Court, a position he was appointed to in 2013. Early in his career, he served as a law clerk on the superior court and then worked as a solo practitioner and an assistant public defender. He went on to work as a clinical professor for several years, supervising law students representing criminal defendants in DC Superior Court. Judge Scott has served as a magistrate judge on DC Superior Court since 2020. She previously served as a deputy director in the DC Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel as general counsel for the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights and the assistant attorney general for the DC Office of the Attorney General's housing and community justice section. Mr. Tunnage has served as a criminal trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice since 2009 and previously served as an assistant public defender in Miami, FL. Loren AliKhan has served as the solicitor general for the District of Columbia since 2018. She previously served as deputy solicitor general and spent time in the U.S. Department of Justice and in the appellate practice division of a DC law firm. John Howard III currently serves as an administrative law judge with the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings. He previously worked in private practice and served as an administrative law judge with the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights. All of these nominees are experienced lawyers and adjudicators, and all of them are dedicated to serving the people of the District of Columbia. These are not controversial nominations. Unlike Federal judicial nominees, these individuals are extensively vetted by an independent, seven-member local commission, which recommends candidates for the President to nominate. During the last administration, the Senate confirmed 10 local DC judicial nominees, all by voice vote. I urge my colleagues to join me in confirming these nominees, each of whom has broad and strong bipartisan support. Thank you.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, just 14 months ago, our Nation stood on the brink of a constitutional crisis as the former President and his followers attempted to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power and overturn the results of a free and fair election. Instead of accepting the will of the voters in upholding the foundations of our constitutional Republic, President Trump and his followers engaged in a campaign of blatant disinformation and political interference. They attempted to coerce State and local election officials to make false claims of widespread fraud and then use those claims to not certify election results and reject the will of the people--all to ensure that the former President could stay in power at any cost. My home State of Michigan was at the very center of this battle in 2020 when our State Board of Canvassers met to certify the undeniable fact that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had won the State of Michigan and its 16 electoral votes, but we came dangerously close to the kind of anti-democratic and authoritarian behavior that the United States has long decried in other nations. It basically came down to one vote--just one vote--from one Republican member of the Board of Canvassers--one canvasser who dared to withstand the intense political pressure for him to ignore the will of the people and to not certify those election results, one canvasser who chose to ignore blatant lies and disinformation. His one vote was all that stood between a secure, free, and fair election and a constitutional crisis. This one Republican board member knew his decision to follow the law would cost him the position on that board. He knew that his physical safety would be threatened, and it was. Yet he stood his ground. He fulfilled his constitutional duty and followed the will of the people of the State of Michigan by voting to certify those results. So what was his reward for his courageous vote? Well, the Republicans removed him from the board, sending a very clear message and a threat to all of those who will follow him. Despite failing to coerce enough officials to ignore the law and falsify election results and despite losing one bogus challenge after another in the Federal courts, we all know that the former President didn't stop his efforts there--no. Instead, he rallied his supporters and incited them to attack the U.S. Capitol Building--the very citadel of our democracy--to disrupt Congress as we conducted the ceremonial certification of the results. But thanks to the brave actions of law enforcement officers, the National Guard, and so many others, our democracy withstood these unprecedented attacks on our constitutional Republic. This attack shook the very foundation of our democracy. It exposed cracks that show that it is more fragile than we ever thought was possible. Despite all of this, I believe that we need to celebrate the fact that the 2020 Presidential election was secure, according to the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. We should celebrate that we had record turnout even in a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. We should commend the election workers who made this incredible feat possible. Instead, too many people, including too many of my Republican colleagues, have continued to sow doubt in the integrity of our election process, and these actions threaten the very bedrock of our democracy. Instead of condemning falsehoods and violence, there is a concerted effort underway in Michigan and all across our country to rewrite history, remove election officials, and rewrite State laws to limit voter participation. One of the bills that were introduced in the Michigan Legislature would lock up--would lock up--absentee drop boxes before election day. One Republican city clerk called this idea crazy and said it makes no sense whatsoever. I agree. Another bill would restrict the ability of State election officials to send out absentee ballot applications to voters. In fact, Michigan Republicans filed 39 bills in the State legislature to restrict voting rights. Nothing less than the very future of our democracy is at stake, and we must act or risk losing what so many Americans have fought for and have died for for nearly 250 years. The right to vote, the right to self-governance, the right of the American people to choose and fire public officials is our Nation's fundamental freedom. We can protect that right and ensure every American has equal access to the ballot box, and we can do it by simply passing two bills that are before us. The Freedom to Vote Act will protect the rights of voters by facilitating registration, early voting, and vote-by-mail. It will set a standard to ensure that every citizen in every State has guaranteed rights. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act takes additional steps to address the practices that have historically been used to discriminate against voters simply based on their race. Despite some of the Republican arguments that I have already heard today, the Constitution is very clear. We have heard that from article I of the Constitution, and many times, Congress has continued to strengthen the voting rights of individuals. The 15th Amendment clearly states that the right of citizens cannot be abridged by a State and clearly states that ``Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.'' That is just what Congress has done in passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Help America Vote Act, and the National Voter Registration Act. Congress has done this in the past. We need to do it again. The American people overwhelmingly support these commonsense measures, and they deserve to know where we stand. For that reason, after every Senator has had a chance to speak, the debate must come to an end, and we must have an up-or-down vote on these bills. I believe history will not be kind to the colleagues of mine who stand in the way of democracy. Make no mistake about it, we are at a pivotal moment in our Nation's history. Our democratic Republic and our most treasured values are in danger. If we fail to act, we may lose it. I proudly stand on the side of democracy, and I urge my colleagues to stand with me in passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. I yield the floor.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I thank Senator Klobuchar. One year ago today, a shocking, violent, and unthinkable attack on the U.S. Capitol shook the very foundations of our democracy. I was here, in this Chamber, as we were conducting the ceremonial certification of our election, and I just remember so vividly as the proceedings were so abruptly paused and the Vice President was hurried off of the podium by the Secret Service and the confusion as we evacuated this Chamber. And, in that moment, none of us were aware of the brutal altercations that were unfolding all around us as our heroic law enforcement officers and first responders fended off the violent mob of insurrectionists. The images from that day are absolutely horrifying. They are images that I and this country will hopefully never forget. We are forever indebted to the brave U.S. Capitol Police officers, the DC Metropolitan Police, the National Guard, and others whose valiant efforts defended a democracy that day and thwarted an attempted insurrection. Not only did this attack leave frontline officers with serious physical injuries, but it also took the lives of several. The attack has taken an unimaginable mental and emotional toll on first responders, the Capitol Hill community, and Americans all across our Nation who witnessed this assault on the heart of our democracy with their own eyes, either here in person or watching it on television. Sadly, as we mark this solemn anniversary, the threat that we all watched become a violent act 1 year ago has only continued to grow. In my role as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, along with Rules Committee Chairwoman Klobuchar, we were proud to lead the first bipartisan oversight hearings--investigation-- and report on the immediate changes needed to secure the Capitol and to prevent a future attack. Since that report was released last June, nearly 16 of the 20 recommendations that we made have been implemented or are well underway. The Capitol is secure, and we are much better prepared for a future attack. But let us be very clear: We must do more to tackle the threat of domestic and violent extremism, especially as more and more people embrace conspiracy theories and outright lies and report that they believe that violence can be justified to get their desired political outcomes. Once relegated to the fringes of our society, these kinds of views are now creeping further into the mainstream, and that presents a grave threat to the future of our democracy. There is no easy one solution to address this matter, but there are actions that we can take to protect our democracy and strengthen it for generations to come. Most significantly, our Nation's political leaders, no matter their political affiliation, must condemn the violence that occurred on these grounds 1 year ago and speak out against the lies and conspiracies about the 2020 election that have compelled further threats and acts of violence. We must also address how this disinformation and other extremist content spreads online, reaches new audiences, and drives too many people down a rabbit hole of radicalization. We have seen all too clearly how the spread of such extreme content online can swiftly become real-world violence. More actions must be taken to limit the amplification of disinformation and extreme content online and to prevent extremist views from reaching that tipping point into violent acts. And our counterterrorism agencies must ensure that they are effectively focusing on the threat at hand by ensuring that they have sufficient personnel and resources devoted to domestic terrorism and domestic violent extremism. And finally, today and every day, all Americans must remain committed to protecting our democracy. We cannot take our democracy for granted. It is built on the promise that every American is committed to the same core values of free and fair elections, the peaceful transfer of power, and an accountable government for all of the people. If we lose this shared commitment to continue upholding our most cherished principles, we risk losing the very freedoms and the rights that have made our Nation a beacon of light for the entire world. Every Member of this body--every American--has a vital role in strengthening our democracy. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle and at every level of government should make clear that the lies and violent action that took place on January 6 have no place in our country and commit themselves to restoring faith in our democratic institutions by ensuring that everyone can make their voices heard in our democracy through the ballot box. One year ago, we saw our democracy endure against a violent attempted insurrection, but we must be very clear-eyed moving forward. We cannot let efforts to weaken and erode confidence in the future of our democracy continue. Let's come together and take the very real challenges our Nation faces head-on. In times of adversity, our country persevered because we came together as one. We must channel that spirit and strive to create a more perfect Union today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I had the privilege to deliver the commencement address for Michigan State University fall graduates. Speaking with and recognizing the next generation of leaders in Michigan and the country was an incredible honor. While I was unable to attend today's vote No. 506 on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 528 Atul Atmaram Gawande, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted aye on the motion to invoke cloture. Mr. President, I had the privilege to deliver the commencement address for Michigan State University fall graduates. Speaking with and recognizing the next generation of leaders in Michigan and the country was an incredible honor. While I was unable to attend today's vote No. 507 on confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 528, Atul Atmaram Gawande, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted aye on confirmation. Mr. President, I had the privilege to deliver the commencement address for Michigan State University fall graduates. Speaking with and recognizing the next generation of leaders in Michigan and our country was an incredible honor. While I was unable to attend today's vote No. 508 on motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 577 Linda Lopez, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California. Had I been able to attend, I would have voted aye on the motion to invoke cloture.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Executive Calendar No. 557, Donald Walker Tunnage, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for a term of fifteen years.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Executive Calendar No. 511, Susan Grundmann, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years expiring July 1, 2025.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Executive Calendar No. 410, Sean C. Staples, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Executive Calendar No. 556, Ebony M. Scott, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Executive Calendar No. 406, Kenia Seoane Lopez, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to confirm several highly qualified nominees who are waiting to get to work in critical roles across the government. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nomination: Executive Calendar No. 404, Rupa Ranga Puttagunta, of the District of Columbia, to be Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years; that the nomination be confirmed; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order on the nomination; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.